Playaz Circle Talk New Album, Working with Raekwon

Exclusive: Playaz Circle say meeting the Chef at an ATL gas station led to a collaborator and big supporter.

Last week, Atlanta’s Playaz Circle [click to read], comprised of emcees Tity Boi and Dolla Boi, spoke with HipHopDX about their upcoming sophomore album Flight 360: The Takeoff, coming this September 15 on Def Jam/Disturbing Tha Peace. The two rappers discussed their dynamic on in the booth, saying that their personal history as friends has allowed them to develop a style unto their own.

"[We developed our style together] from coming up in apartments together, both being raised by a single parent…struggling together, hustling together,” said Tity Boi. “We wasn’t rapping always forever, but we’ve been knowing each other forever, and it was just kind of like we graduated to the Rap game together. We’re just generally friends…on and off wax, it’s just genuine like that...it’s just like we were partners and we happen to rap.”

"We both know each other back and forth. We grew up together and have been around each other for so long. We pretty much might be set telling the same story, but it might be from his point of view, or when I tell a story it might be from my point of view. So when we get in the booth, we bring it like two different sides of the story…he’s got his own lyrical style by doing things, I’ve got my own style by doing things. We just compliment each other so well.”

The College Park natives went on to discuss the overall concept behind their latest endeavor Flight 360. They say that the album takes off after the success of their ’07 debut Supply and Demand [click to read].

"I actually thought of that title [Flight 360: The Takeoff] during our Supply and Demand album,” explained Dolla Boi. “For us [to have] that title for so long, we were able to build around it and make it a conceptual album. We knew what we were working with, so we just picked the songs…to paint that picture [of] the album, like songs such as 'Turbulence,' songs such as 'High Air,' which all relate back to the title 360. It’s a very conceptual album.”

Tity Boi echoed a similar idea, later adding, “We just tried to build a whole concept around the [title]. Basically, the title 360 is another analogy for a circle, and so this album right here really touches on what happened post-'Duffle Bag Boy' success: what happened with all the traveling and getting involved with different cultures, different slangs, different ways of life. Coming from College Park, we were really just around here kicking it before the album [and] before the song blew up. Once it blew up, [it felt like] we were everywhere at once.”

Boasting features from the likes Cee-Lo Green, Jagged Edge, Bobby V, Ludacris and Lil Wayne, Dolla and Tity describe the album as a mixture of vivid lyricism and a laid-back sound. In addition, Dolla explains how fan response has been positive thus far, describing the album as perfect riding music.

"[It’s] like a DVD that you can listen to,” exlained Tity. “We recorded over 60 or 70 songs for the album, and there are some that are out right now banging. We had songs, but it just would’ve stuck out like a sore thumb [from the album’s concept]…[it’s] almost like you’re watching something, but you’re not. Everything is so visual. We just tried to paint pictures [with our music]. And coming from College Park, people ain’t realized how much me and Dolla love the…lyrical aspect of the game. We came up on lyricists…we came up on really just trying to show where we come from and out our experiences on paper.”

“[The album’s] almost like a groovy, laid-back album for the most part,” said Dolla. “If I could critique it and complain, I would say that there’s no really up-tempo, heavy dance music on the album. I would say it’s the laid back riding type of music. We played a couple of songs a few nights ago on USTREAM, and a lot of the fans were saying this album sounds like this is something they would love to ride to.”

Tity Boi also explained one of the most head turning features on Flight 360: the Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon [click to read]. He described how a chance meeting with the Chef at a gas station gave them the chance to build a musical relationship with one of Shaloin’s top spitters.

"One day not too long ago, I bumped into Raekwon at a gas station [in Atlanta],” recalled Tity Boi. “I told I was a big fan of him, told him ‘I used to love you [when] I was coming up,’ keeping it all the way real. That was maybe two or three years ago. Since then, we’ve had a relationship to the point where we’ve done two or three songs that are on a mixtape that’s out doing well, and [we] just stuck with him. He always just gaves the props and confidence that we needed, like ‘Luda’s going to need y’all’…even just doing anything…like ‘What do y’all need, a drop? A verse?’ He just showed so much love, so when it came time to do the album, we were like ‘We’ve just got to put that boy Rae on the album. He’s fucked with us the whole time, from beginning to end.’”

Flight 360: The Takeoff drops this September 15 on Def Jam/Disturbing Tha Peace.